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This is the main administrative series of the Department of Internal Affairs and began in Oct/Nov 1937, replacing the annual/multiple number subject series which operated from 1933-37 [series 498]. Sub-series file numbers began at 40/-, evidently to avoid confusion with an earlier multiple number subject series from 1913-33 [series 468].

A classification scheme for the Civil Defence 185/ - files can be found in series 8274, item reference W4661/16.

Only certain accessions of this series have been serialised. These are: 93/- files (Alexander Turnbull Library ); 181/- files [War] History branch; 185/- files (Civil Defence); 200/-files (Lottery Fund); 176/-files (Parliamentary Committee on Local Government - W5027); and a large transfer of local government files (W5224) with a variety of classification numbers.

Series 6016 (Multiple number subject files - Alexander Turnbull Library) contains correspondence between the Turnbull Library and its then controlling agency the Department of Internal Affairs.

Some files from series 6015 have been top-numbered into the successor series 7536.

Series 7879 contains Historical Branch unregistered papers that would ordinarily have been placed on the Internal Affairs Department multiple number subject files.

The Department of Internal Affairs provided secretariat support to several Commissions of Inquiry. Some of the administrative records of these Inquiries were managed within this recordkeeping system, using series numbers not generally used by the department at the time they were operating. For example:

the Royal Commission to Inquire into and Report upon State Services in New Zealand (1961-62) classified its files using 1000/- series;

the Royal Commission to Inquire into and Report Upon Salary and Wage Fixing Procedures in the State Services (1968) classified its files using 15/- and 16/- series; and

the Royal Commission to Inquire Into and Report Upon Salary and Wage Fixing Procedures in the State Services (1972) classified its files using 60/- and 61/- series.

This series replaced series 6015, which was the previous Department of Internal Affairs [DIA] file classification. It is not clear when the new file classification first came into use. However, the changeover took place over an extended period. Different parts of the department appear to have begun using this series at different times. Indeed, it is possible that some parts of the Department may have implemented the file classification in quite different ways.

Some of the older files in this series have been top-numbered – that is, given new record numbers. Thus the series includes items that record actions as early as 1873.

The alpha prefix of each file reference denotes either the DIA division that created the file, or the subject or function documented by the file. Alphabetical prefixes include ADM Administration, CIT Citizenship, CON Constitutional, LGC Local Government Commission, MIN Ministerial Issues, VRA Video Recordings Authority, and WIL Wildlife.

The second element of the file reference is a number denoting a particular subject. For instance, the research unit files have sub-series number subjects such as 1/ Recreation, 4/ Historic Places, 13/ Non Departmental, 27/ NZ Planning Council, and 29/ Royal Commission on Social Policy.

The third element of the file reference denotes a particular kind of project or activity. For instance, the research unit files have sub-sub-series number subjects such as 100/ Research Project, 300/ Background Paper, 700/ Statistical Analysis, and 800/ Graduate Projects.

Series 7873

Readers should note that related series 7873, Co-ordination Files, was part of the same series but was given a different classification by Internal Affairs. Accordingly it has been assigned a separate series number.

Note on LGC Files

Since the late 1970s the Local Government Commission [LGC] has assumed responsibility for its own records, maintaining a single series after closure of the Internal Affairs classification sub-series 176/- and 197/-. It should therefore be noted that many earlier files are from the Internal Affairs record-keeping system [Series 6015]. Selected files in the LGC sub-series within 7536, W5027, are controlled by the Annual Report Register in series 7701; please refer to series 7701 documentation for more information.

Note on CUL File

Series 7536, W5104 consists of a single file retained by the Department of Internal Affairs Historical Branch. This Historical Publications Advisory Committee file deals with the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.

Note on W5328

This accession includes a number of files relating to the Commonwealth Youth Programme (originally serviced by the Youth and Community Development Division of the Department of Internal Affairs) that were passed to the Ministry of Youth Affairs when they took over the responsibility for this programme.

Note on W5600

The records in this accession were created by the Local Government Rates Enquiry which was supported by the Executive Government Support Office of the Department of Internal Affairs, and were given the alpha prefix LGRI.

Note on W5613

This accession contains alpha-numeric multiple-number subject files inherited by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage from the Department of Internal Affairs. The alpha prefix of each file reference denotes either the DIA division that created the file, or the subject or function documented by the file. Alphabetical prefixes include; CUL Cultural, CON Constitutional and Awards and WAR sub-series within the alpha-numeric series which formed the central filing system of Department of Internal Affairs.

W5890

This accession also contains alpha-numeric multiple-number subject files inherited by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage from the Department of Internal Affairs. As above, the alpha prefix of each file reference denotes either the DIA division that created the file, or the subject or function documented by the file. Alphabetical prefixes in this accession include: AA - Antiquities Act; CUL - Cultural; CON - Constitutional; HC - Hillary Commission; HG - History/Heritage Group; MG - National Monuments and War Graves; RAS - Recreational and Sport; SFL - Sports Fitness and Leisure; VC - Visits and Ceremonial.

W3778

This accession contains alpha-numeric subject files related to the New Zealand 1990 Commission, a group formed under the Department of Internal Affairs for which the Department was partially responsible for funding. The alphabetical prefix in this accession is CUL - Cultural, followed by 22/- denoting the sub-series number subject '1990 Commemorations', followed by the file reference denoting the particular kind of project or activity.